A water main burst during road repairs opposite Asia Harvest Commercial Centre on Shau Kei Wan Road on 27 October, with workers suspected of puncturing it. The Highways Department said its preliminary estimate put the number of affected households and businesses at about 10,000 or more across Shau Kei Wan and Sai Wan Ho. Supplies began returning to normal from 9.30pm that evening.
The damaged pipe was an 18-inch cast-iron main. Muddy water flooded the pavement and both carriageways. The Highways Department said workers began cordoning off and excavating the site at about 10am for routine road-surface repairs, and the burst was discovered around 10.30am. The Water Supplies Department said it received a report at 10.40am, sent staff to the site and shut the valve at noon because of flooding, then worked with the Highways Department on repairs.
Police said a care home at 312-322 Shau Kei Wan Road was affected and an elderly female resident injured her foot. She was conscious when taken by ambulance to Eastern Hospital for treatment.
Water also flooded a ground-floor dim sum shop. Its owner said food had to be discarded and refrigerators and other equipment might have been damaged. He estimated losses, including lost business, renovation, wages and rent, at about HK$300,000. He said reopening could take at least four or five days, possibly a week, depending on the clean-up.
The Highways Department said it was reviewing whether the preparation and construction work met contract requirements, to establish the cause of the burst and who was responsible. Hong Kong Island East legislator Elaine Chik Kit-ling said older utility plans may not match conditions underground. She proposed surveying before excavation, checking findings with other departments and using hand digging where necessary to locate utilities.
The department said that if it finds contractor violations or negligence, it may issue warning or breach notices, deduct payments and press the contractor to handle compensation through the relevant procedures.